Brake-beam.



PATENTBD JUNE 2,1903.

H. VISSBRING. BRAKE BEAM. APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 22. 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No MODEL.

MHIIIHII PATENTBD JUNE 2, 1903.

H. VISSBRING.

BRAKE BEAM.v v ARPLIoATIoN FILED JAN. 2z. 1902.` No MODEL. Y 2 SHEETS-SHEET z.

Patented June 2, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

HARRIT vIs'sERIIve, or o'IIIcAeo, ILLINOIS.

B RAK EQ- BEA IVI SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,707, dated June 2, 1903. Application yfiled January 22, 1902. Serial No. 90.794. (No model.)

metal, and is designed particularly with the object of reducing the cost of construction of such beams and improving the strength and durability thereof,particularly the-strengthin a vertical direction-that is, as against strain exerted above or below the beam, tending to bend it upward or downward.

A further object of this invention is Vthe provision of a brake-beam composed of two members arranged one above and the other below a casting in the middle of the beam, which forms a fulcrum-post for the brakebeam lever, said two members being brought together at their ends and united by means of suitable end castings or brakeshoe heads, which may be of any preferred type.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a brake-beam composedof two channel members placed back to back'on a horizontal plane or plane which is longitudinal of the main strain to whichthe beam is subjected and spaced apart between their ends by means of a suitable casting, forming a part of the fulcruln-post device which takes the brake-beam lever.

The above, as well as such other objects as may hereinafter appear, I attain by means of a construction which I haveillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-,-k

Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, show the preferred form with its details, and Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive,various modifications thereof. Fig. l is a plan view of my improved brake-beam. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof-that is, an elevation looking at the beam from the side which is toward the axle when the beam is in use. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3 of Figs. tand 5. Fig. 4: is a sectional View taken on the line of Fig. 2. Fig. 5'is a sectional view taken on the line 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. G is a sectional view taken on the line 6 of Fig. 1, showing .the improved form of hanging device which I employ. Fig. 7 shows a `modification of my beam in which a diiferent form of fulcrnm-post is used. Fig. S is a front elevation of the beam shown in Fig. r7. Fig. 9 is a detail of the fulcrum-postshown in Figs. 7 and 8, and Fig. l0 another View of the same fnlcrum-posti j Referring now more particularly to Figs. l to 6, inclusive, it will be seen that in the construction vof my improved beam I provide first a pair of channels or other commerciallyrolled shapes equivalent thereto, which I have marked 11, the said channels being secured together at their ends by means of end castings l2, which I prefer to construct as brake-shoe heads to avoid the necessity, for using additional heads besidesthe castings required for holding the two channels together. Between the two ends of the beam the channels l1 are spaced apart by means of the fulcrum-post, so as to stiften the beam vertically and prevent the bending thereof in this direction, which is common in beams of this class, which are otherwise amply strongthat is, which are sufficiently strongso far as taking the strains of braking is concerned. The channels, as shown, are arranged back to back-that is, with their web portions in contact at the ends-since this I believe to be more suitable for the purpose.

Adjacent to the ends of the beam I provide a combined guard-finger device and hanger, comprising, essentially, a guard-finger piece 13, which has a wedge-shaped extension 14, projecting between the two channels in position to havev the bolt 15 pass through it and secure it in place, the bolt l5 being also made to form a safety chain-hook, comprising, es-

sentially; an eye 16, provided with a iiatted part 17, (see Fig. 6,) that bears against the channel'll in amanner to prevent rotation of said bolt when the nut 1S is put on or taken off:

The preferred formof fulcrumypostisthat which I have shown inFigs.'1, 4,' and', and comprises, primarily, the socket-piecew- 19, which is riveted or otherwise secured between the two channel membersll and carries the pull or clevisrod'20, which isprovided at 2l with trunnions arranged with a curved bearing-surface 22, so that the clevis- ICO rod 2O will have a movement vertically to accomodate itself to the direction of pull upon the brake-beam lever, this vertical movement being permitted by the clearance-space 23 above and below the clevis-rod and within the socket-piece 19. At the back of the beam the socket-piece is provided with projections 24, constructed to engage the rear flanges of the channels, the projections 24 being preferably lipped over, as shown at 25, on their ends in order to help retain the channels and other parts in proper relative position.

In Figs. 7 to l0 I have shown a modied arrangement of my improved mechanism in which I employ a fulcrum-post 26 which is made all in one piece in place of the improved form which I have shown in the other figures. Otherwise the construction shown in these Figs. 7 to 10 is substantially like that shown in the other views and has corresponding parts numbered with the same reference-nnrnerals. Y

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A brake-beam comprising two channelbars with their flanges directed outwardly, and spaced apart andv held at their middle by a pull-rod block, and having their ends secured by insertion in a brake-head, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a brake beam composed of two channel-bars separated along a horizontal plane, of a guard-linger secured between said two members and held by a hooked bolt, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a brake-beam composed of two members separated on a horizontal plane, of a safety chain-bolt passing through said members, and having a flatted portion thereon adapted to engage with one of said members, whereby to prevent rotation of the bolt, substantially as described.

4. A brake-beam composed of two channelbars spaced apart at the middle on a horizontal plane, combined with a guide-rod between said bars, a fastening therefor composed of a suspension-bolt through the bars and rod, having an open hook bearing on the beam, whereby achain in said hook may be detached without removing said suspension-bolt.

5. The combination with a brake beam composed of two members separated on a horizontal plane, of a fulcrum-post constructed to be introduced between the two ends of said members and spacing the same apart, said fulcrum-post comprising a body portion, and a clevis-rod movable relatively to said body portion, and in a direction vertical relative to the beam when it is in use.

6. A brake-beam fulcrum-post comprising a body portion, and a pull-rod secured to said body portion provided with a T-head allowing movement in one plane only relative thereto.

7. A brake-beam fulcrum-post comprising a body portion, and a clevis-rod, having trunnions engaging said body portion, substantially as described.

S. A brake-beam fulcrum-post comprising a body portion, and a device for carrying the brake-beam strains to said body portion, having trunnions engaging said body portion, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY VISSERING. 

